Driver comfort is essential when operating a heavy vehicle, especially on long-haul routes and during the longer, warmer summer days. Here’s how you can ensure your AC is protected.

Keeping your air conditioning system in prime condition and ensuring all its components are in working order means you will get a longer lifespan out of your unit. When combined with high-pressure refrigerant, moisture can damage a truck’s aircon. When your system has been open to the atmosphere for a while, it is susceptible to contamination by moisture or foreign particles. It is important to remove any moisture, as it can be extremely harmful to the system’s components and impact how the AC operates.

One system component is the receiver-drier, which protects all the other parts of the AC loop. It is located between the condenser outlet and the expansion valve inlet on the high-pressure side of the circuit.

A receiver drier’s primary role is to protect system components, such as the compressor, condenser, thermal expansion (TX) valve and evaporator, by acting as a filter, removing moisture and contaminants.

However, the receiver-drier does have different roles. These include retaining moisture and contaminants from the system; finalising and securing condensation of the fluid; compensating for the variations of fluid volume; and ensuring oil returns to the compressor.

Used in AC systems containing a TX valve, refrigerant from the condenser enters the receiver-drier and passes through a primary filter, which removes foreign particles, and a molecular sieve and desiccant that removes moisture before moving to the TX valve via a liquid pickup tube.

Not all receiver driers contain an internal liquid pickup tube and would be mounted horizontally. Correct installation is critical.

Receiver driers must be replaced when the AC system is opened for service or when a compressor, condenser or TX valve is replaced.

NAPA Auto Parts has a comprehensive range of over 350 receiver driers, covering more than 16,000 applications. Get in touch with the team with the know-how at NAPA Auto Parts. Find out more at napa.co.nz